Farmers Movement Archive

North Maha farmers leave for vehicle rally to Mumbai

Nashik: Roughly 70 vehicles carrying farmers from north Maharashtra left for Mumbai’s Raj Bhawan from Nashik on Saturday. The farmers are going to the state capital to show their support to the farmers agitating against the three agriculture laws passed by the Union government and even labour laws in support of the industrialists.“It is a now-or-never situation. The farmers from across the state have decided to join the protests against the central government. This time we (the Left parties) are not alone. The constituent members of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi have joined us in denouncing the unilaterally passed bills — three against the interest of farmers and four against the interest of workers,” said Ashok Dhawale, the president All-India Kisan Sabha and member of the CPM central committee.On Saturday, the farmers — who came to Nashik from Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbar districts as well as Palghar district — left for Ghatan Devi, in Kasara Ghat, where all the unions are set to congregate before leaving for Mumbai on Sunday morning.“As a part of the four-day protest, our vehicle morcha will start from Ghatan Devi and reach the Azad Maidan to join the ‘Mahapadav’ on Sunday. On Monday, under the leadership of Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha, we will march to the Raj Bhavan,” Dhawale, said.Ajit Nawale, the secretary of AIKS, said the farmers would not settle for anything less than a repeal of the laws. “Several rounds of talks are being held, but they are not going to help unless the government withdraws the laws,” he said.DL Karad, an office-bearer of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (Citu) said, “The farmers will be joined by workers from Nashik, who will start their journey on Monday morning and join them at the venue. Moreover, there are women from the various wings of the trade unions and students who will join the morcha.”

The Times of India

2021-01-24

Nashik